Fuel system flow process

ABSTRACT

A low-foaming aqueous solution containing a surface active agent is used as a fuel system test liquid.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Joseph S. Smatko Santa Barbara, Calif. 780,225

Nov. 29, 1968 June 15, 1971 General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

FUEL SYSTEM FLOW PROCESS 10 Claims, No Drawings U.S. Cl 73/194R, 73/1 13, 73/3 Int. Cl G0lp 5/00 Field of Search 73/194, 3, l 16, H3

References Cited OTHER REFERENCES Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser Assistant Examiner-John K. Lunsford Attorneys-J. L. Carpenter, W. F. Wagner and C. K. Veenstra ABSTRACT: A lowfoaming aqueous solution containing a surface active agent is used as a fuel system test liquid.

FUEL SYSTEM FLOW PROCESS Current practice in the automotive carburetor-testing and manufacturing processes requires that carefully controlled blends of gasolines or other solvents be flowed through the Table l readily shows. however. that a 0.1 percent solution of Wyandotte Chemicals "Pluronic L61" provides data repeatability generally equivalent to that obtained with white gasoline and Stoddard solvent.

carburetor fuel system to measure and adjust the carburetor- Literature from Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation inmetering characteristics. dicates that the Pluronic series of compounds are polyoxln the quest for an alternative, to the use of gasoline or solyethylene polyols, polyoxypropylene polyols, polyoxvents in these processes ordinary tap water was used as a caryethylene-polyoxypropylene polyols, and mixtures thereof. buretor test liquid. However, the water did not provide re- This literature indicates that "Pluronic L6l"is not completely peatable test data; it is believed that this is due to the fact that soluble at a concentration of 0.1 percent but from the literathe high surface tension of water does not permit adequate ture the surface tension of such a solution appears to be less wetting of the various carburetor-metering surfaces. than dynes per centimeter and probably about 40 dynes per Aqueous solutions of several different surface active agents, centimeter and the interfacial tension, measured against at having surface tension values substantially below that of l s fluid called Nujol, appears to be less than 20 dynes per cenwater, have been tested. These tests indicate that those solu timeter and probably about 10 dynes per centimeter. This tions with high foaming tendencies also produce nonrepeataliterature also indicates that such a solution produces a foam ble test data. However, solutions were found which do provide height of about 10 millim r n flOWed 0n the Dynamic repeatable data. Foam Tester described in Detergent Foam Measurement,

Various liquids tested are listed in the following Table l, H. E. Reich, .1. T. Patton, .lr., C. V. Francis, Soap and Chemitogether with white gasoline and Stoddard solvent, standard cal Specialities, Apr. 1961, at a temperature of 120 F. and a carburetor test liquids. flow rate of 400 milliliters per minute.

TABLE I Idle Off-idle Spread. Spread, Test hquid Carburetor Trials percent Trials percent White gasoline A-l 6 0. 24 -2 6 o. 75 o 1.1 A-a 5 o. 65 A4 12 2.1 9 0.3 A-tiu 5 0. 3 5 l. 0 B1 5 1. ti C-1 6 0. 0

Stoddard solvent A-g c 1, 5 6 L8 Tap water 1.. A-1 26 37 0-1 4 9, 5

Dcionized water \-2 5 A-3 9 Tap water containing 0.1% Procter & Gamble Kryo-EO" A-l 5 Tap water containing 0.003% Procter & Gamble Kryo-EO 7 Deionized water containing 0.002% American Cyanamid Acorosol OT 6 Deionizcd water containing 0.002% Du Pont Zonyl Sl3. 6 Deionized water containing 0.01% Du Pont Zonyl 5-13 9 Deionized water containing 0.01% Du Pont Zonyl A" and 1% Z-n-butoxycthanol A-3 6 13-1 J Dcionized water containing 1% Z-nbutoxyethanol A-3 11 1 7 Deionized water containing 10% 2-n-butox vethdnol and 0.01% Dow Chemical "Dowtax 9N0"- A4 0 1s. 0 6 22 Deionizecl water containing 1% 2-n-butoxyethauol and 0.01% Dow Chemical D owfax 9N9 11-4 9 20. 0 7 37 Deionized water containing 0.01% Dow Chemical Dowfax 0N9 A-4 12 0. 0 12 5. 5 Deionized water containing 0.05% Dow Chemical Dowlax 9N9" 4. 0 Deionized water containing 0.01% Dow Chemical "Dowlnx 9N0" Deionizcd Water containing 0.01% Wyandottc Chemicals Pluronic L61 2, 6 0 5. 8 Deionized water containing 0.1% Wyamdotte Chemicals Pluronic L61" 0. 7 6 l. 1. 5 6 o.

1. 7 12 1. 7 1. 0 4 1. 4 o. 5 4 o. 6 l. 5 9 8. 6 0. S 9 0. 6

1 Excessive foaming. w p 7 Table l indicates that various carburetors were used in the tests, including carburetors of one barrel, two barrel and four barrel design. One of these carburetors, carburetor A-6 was also tested with the standard venturi cluster assembly replaced by a venturi cluster assembly calibrated rich with large idle tubes and by a venturi cluster assembly calibrated lean with large air bleeds. The results indicate that carburetor design and calibration has only a small effect on flow repeatability.

Since carburetor metering is generally more repeatable at high airflow rates, the tests were limited to trials at an idle airflow rate of 0.6 pounds per minute and at an off-idle airflow rate of 1.5 pounds per minute.

The concentration of each surface active agent is shown by indicating the volume of the surface active agent in the solution as a percent of the volume of water in the solution.

Several trials were made with each liquid, and the spread of the resulting data is presented as a percent of the average value of the data. lt will be noted that an unsatisfactory spread in the data exists for most of the solutions; this spread is believed to be due to the high-foaming tendencies of these solutions.

The aforementioned literature also indicates that Pluronics L62, L72, L81, L92, and [.101 have similar surface and interfacial tension values and provide low foam heights, up to about 35 millimeters, whereas many of the remaining Pluronic compounds produce foam heights substantially in excess of .600 millimeters. lt is considered, therefore, that solutions of the specified Pluronic compounds would also provide repeatable data when used as carburetor test liquids.

It is noted that the 1 percent solution of Z-n-Butoxyethanol also produced close repeatability in the data.

In view of the corrosive properties of water, addition of a corrosion inhibitor to the solution may also be necessary. S1182 gested corrosion inhibitors include those from the class called vapor phase inhibitors, which include cyclohexylamine nitrite and carbonate and dicyclohexylamine nitrite and carbonate. Another suggested inhibitor is known as *Oakite Formula C."

Carburetor test liquids are used at the end of carburetor manufacturing lines to indicate the flow characteristics of the carburetors and permit adjustment of the carburetors to the required flow characteristics. Carburetor test liquids also are used on flow test stands to determine the actual flow characteristics of carburetors for which adjustment is not contemplated. lt will be recognized, of course, that when measuring the rate of flow of the alternative carburetor test liquids set forth above, correction must be made for the differences in density and viscosity between the carburetor test liquid actually used and the gasoline or Stoddard solvent normally used.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that important characteristics of aqueous test liquids have been discovered, substantially enhancing the possibility of replacing gasolines and solvents as fuel-system-testing liquids.

anna.

lclaim:

l. The process of determining the rate of flow of gasoline which can be provided through a fuel system which includes the steps of:

delivering through said fuel system an aqueous solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25 C. and having a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on the Dynamic Foam Tester at 120 F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for minutes,

measuring the rate of flow of said solution through said fuel system, and

converting the measured rate of flow of said solution to the corresponding rate of flow of gasoline.

2. The process of adjusting a fuel system to provide a capacity for a desired rate of flow of gasoline therethrough which includes the steps of:

delivering through said fuel system an aqueous solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25 C. and having a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on the Dynamic Foam Tester at 120 F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for 10 minutes,

determining a desired rate of flow of gasoline through said fuel system,

converting the desired rate of flow of gasoline to the corresponding rate of flow of said solution, and

adjusting said fuel system to achieve the corresponding rate of flow of said solution therethrough.

3. The process of determining the rate of flow of fuel which can be provided through a fuel system which includes the steps of:

delivering through said fuel system an aqueous solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25 C. and having a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on a Dynamic Foam Tester at 120 F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for 10 and measuring the rate of flow of said solution through said fuel system.

4. The process of deter-ruining the rate of flow of fuel which can be provided through a fuel system which includes the steps of:

dissolving a surface active agent in water to form a solution which is capable of wetting the components of said fuel system and which has a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on the Dynamic Foam Tester at F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for 10 minutes,

delivering said solution through said fuel system, and

measuring the rate of flow of said solution through said fuel system.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein said surface active agent is selected from polyoxyethylene polyols, polyoxypropylene polyols, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polyols, and mixtures thereof.

6. The process of claim 4 wherein said surface active agent is selected from polyoxyethylene polyols, polyoxypropylene polyols, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polyols, and mixtures thereof and provides a solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25 C.

7. The process of claim 4 wherein said surface active agent is selected from the compounds known commercially as Pluronic polyols grades L61, L62, L72L8 1 L92 and L101.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the volume of said surface active agent is approximately 0.1 percent of the volume of the water in said solution.

9. The process of claim 4 wherein said solution further comprises a corrosion inhibitor.

10. The process of determining the rate of flow of fuel which can be provided through a fuel system which includes the steps of:

forming an aqueous solution containing a surface active agent selected from polyoxyethylene polyols, polyoxypropylene polyols, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polyols, and mixtures thereof, the volume of said surface active agent being approximately 0.1 percent of the volume of the water in said solution, said solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25 C. and having a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on the Dynamic Foam Tester at 120 F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for 10 minutes,

delivering said solution through said fuel system, and

measuring the rate of flow of said solution through said fuel system.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,584,506 Dated June 15, 1971 Inventor (s) Joseph S Smatko It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 7, after "alternative" delete the comma (J line 8, after "processes" insert a comma Column 2, line 21, after "minute" and before the period insert for a period of 10 minutes claim 3 (column 4) line 1, after "10" insert minutes Claim 7 (column 4) line 27, insert commas after "L72" and after "L81".

Signed and sealed this ll th day of December 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FIE'ICHER,J'R. ROBERT GO'I'TSCHALK Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents 

1. The process of determining the rate of flow of gasoline which can be provided through a fuel system which includes the steps of: delivering through said fuel system an aqueous solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25* C. and having a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on the Dynamic Foam Tester at 120* F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for 10 minutes, measuring the rate of flow of said solution through said fuel system, and converting the measured rate of flow of said solution to the corresponding rate of flow of gasoline.
 2. The process of adjusting a fuel system to provide a capacity for a desired rate of flow of gasoline therethrough which includes the steps of: delivering through said fuel system an aqueous solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25* C. and having a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on the Dynamic Foam Tester at 120* F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for 10 minutes, determining a desired rate of flow of gasoline through said fuel system, converting the desired rate of flow of gasoline to the corresponding rate of flow of said solution, and adjusting said fuel system to achieve the corresponding rate of flow of said solution therethrough.
 3. ThE process of determining the rate of flow of fuel which can be provided through a fuel system which includes the steps of: delivering through said fuel system an aqueous solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25* C. and having a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on a Dynamic Foam Tester at 120* F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for 10 and measuring the rate of flow of said solution through said fuel system.
 4. The process of determining the rate of flow of fuel which can be provided through a fuel system which includes the steps of: dissolving a surface active agent in water to form a solution which is capable of wetting the components of said fuel system and which has a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on the Dynamic Foam Tester at 120* F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for 10 minutes, delivering said solution through said fuel system, and measuring the rate of flow of said solution through said fuel system.
 5. The process of claim 4 wherein said surface active agent is selected from polyoxyethylene polyols, polyoxypropylene polyols, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polyols, and mixtures thereof.
 6. The process of claim 4 wherein said surface active agent is selected from polyoxyethylene polyols, polyoxypropylene polyols, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polyols, and mixtures thereof and provides a solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25* C.
 7. The process of claim 4 wherein said surface active agent is selected from the compounds known commercially as Pluronic polyols grades L61, L62, L72L81L92 and L101.
 8. The process of claim 7 wherein the volume of said surface active agent is approximately 0.1 percent of the volume of the water in said solution.
 9. The process of claim 4 wherein said solution further comprises a corrosion inhibitor.
 10. The process of determining the rate of flow of fuel which can be provided through a fuel system which includes the steps of: forming an aqueous solution containing a surface active agent selected from polyoxyethylene polyols, polyoxypropylene polyols, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene polyols, and mixtures thereof, the volume of said surface active agent being approximately 0.1 percent of the volume of the water in said solution, said solution having a surface tension less than about 50 dynes per centimeter at 25* C. and having a tendency to produce a foam height less than about 35 millimeters when flowed on the Dynamic Foam Tester at 120* F. at a rate of 400 milliliters per minute for 10 minutes, delivering said solution through said fuel system, and measuring the rate of flow of said solution through said fuel system. 